Edge trim for desk tops and the like



Aug. 5, 1958 L. w. PAsEwALK 2,846,283

EDGE TRIM F 0R DESK TOPS AND THE LIKE Filed May 14, 1957 INVENTOR.4L-'foy n( qsfwux BY v w m v.

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A Trae/V516 salinas?) noon rnnvr non ross ann "ran una Leroy W.Pasewaik, Mlanitowac, Wis., assigner to linvineibie Metal FurnitureQompany, Manrtowac, lit/rs., a corporation of Wisconsin Application May14, 1957, Serial No. glii 6 Claims. (Ci. 311-107) This invention relatesto an edge trim for desk tops and the like.

Desk tops covered with linoleum or plastic sheeting have long presentedan edge-inishing problem which has only been solved, in many cases, byproviding a downward curve on all margins of the desk top about whichthe covering material is extended on a broad radius. in many instancesthis curved edge is undesirable.

The present invention provides a square edge for a covered desk andpermits the trim band applied to the desk to be flush with the coveringmaterial when the maferial comprises linoleum or some similarly flexibleand deformable substance. in the case of a fairly rigid material whichchips when bent, as is the case in certain plastic coverings, a similarband is used but it has to be applied somewhat differently, thethickness of the band lying above the plane of the material.

ln both cases, the desk top is relieved slightly on all sides as itapproaches the side flange. In the case of the linoleum covering, thelinoleum bends downwardly onto the slightly offset portion of the top toan extent just sufficient so that the beveled flange of the trim stripoverlying the edge of the linoleum is substantially flush with the topsurface throughout the intermediate area. The trim strip flange is partof a channel which overlies the facing flange of the desk proper andprovides clearance from the edge of the sheet which surfaces the top.There is a substantial difference in expansion and contraction betweenthe surfacing sheet and the metal and, moreover, it is desirable toprovide this clearance so that any blow which deforms the trim will notbreak the margin of the surfacing sheet. This is particularly desirablewhen the surfacing sheet is plastic and incapable of being bent intoconformity to the relieved portion of the metal top.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary view in perspective of the corner of a desk orthe like embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the desk top lifted from the anglewhich provides the finished edge of the desk pI'OpeI.

Fig. 3 is a view taken in perspective on the line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing how the same constructionappears when used with a plastic surfacing sheet.

The desk proper may be of any conventional con struction or design andis not generally illustrated. In its usual form it includes a mountingangle 5 with a horizontal flange at 6 and a Vertical ange 7, the latterinclosing the trim strip where it is connected to the side flange 8 ofthe metal desk top 9. The angle will be understood to be continuousabout all sides of the desk to pro vide a recess into which isreceivable the top structure presently to be described. The corner 11iis formed on a radius. To accommodate the forming, the flange 6 is cutaway as indicated at 11 in Fig. 2.

The desk top has a surfacing sheet of linoleum or the ts et like asindicated at 15l in Figs. l, 2 and 3, or plastic as indicated at in Fig.4. The metal top 9 is generally planiform throughout most of its areabut in a narrow zone close to its four sides it is relieved downwardlyat 16 as it approaches the corner 17 from which the flange S extendsdownwardly at right angles to the planiform portion of top 9. In thecase of the linoleum top 15, the marginal portions 18 are readilydeformed slightly downwardly to conform to the relieved portion 1-6 ofthe metal top in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 3. In the case of theplastic top, even such slight bending is irnpracticable and the edge 19of the plastic surfacing sheet 15@ is permitted to extend stiflly in thesame plane as shown in Fig. 4.

The nishing strip 20 isy the s'arne in both cases. It comprises anupright'flange 21 which is welded, as shown at 14, to the flange S ofthe metal desk top 9. Above the flange 21, the finishing stripv isformed outwardly at 22 just sufficiently to overlie the top margin ofthe receiving flange 7 of the desk. Thence the finishing strip extendsupwardly at 23 across the margin of the surfacing sheet 15' or 150 andin spaced relation thereto. Thence the finishing strip extends inwardlyat 24 over the surfacing sheet marginV 18 or 19. In the case of thelinoleum top, the flange 24 of the finishing strip is perfectlyhorizontal and substantially at the level of the surface 25 of thelinoleum over the general area of the top. To the extent that there isany deviation in level, it is preferred that the upper surface of flange24 be below rather than above the surface 25.

At the extreme margin of the flange 24, the flange is beveled as shownat 26 in Fig. 3 so that its free margin merges smoothly with the surfaceof the linoleum surfacing sheet to provide a neat and substantiallyright angled corner for the vdesk top. The free margin 18 of thelinoleum surfacing sheet is received into the channel 28 formed withinthe finishing strip between the portions 22, 23 and 24 thereof.

The same finishing strip is used for the plastic top but its extrememargin 27 is bent slightly downwardly onto the surface 250 of theplastic surfacingv sheet 15d so that the bevel 26 originally `formed onthe underside of flange 24 now lies in flat face contact with thesurface 250. The free edge 19 of the plastic surfacing sheet 150 lieswithin the channel 28 free of edge contact with the portion 23 of thefinishing strip. The spacing is particularly important in the case ofthe plastic surfacing sheet, since any crack initiated by deformation ofthe extreme margin might spread onto the exposed surface of the sheet150.

Thus, while the construction has major advantages in the case of a topsurfaced with a sheet 1S of linoleum or the like, which can be deformedin conformity with the gradually relieved portion 16 of the metal top 9,there are also advantages when the desk top is surfaced with stiffermaterial.

The prefabricated top with its surfacing sheet and finishing strip needsno anchorage within the receiving flange 7 of the angle 5 of the desk.However, it is conventional to provide an inwardly turned flange at 29on the desk top engaged by a turn button 30 pivoted to the angle 5 ofthe desk to be engaged over flange 2f? as shown in Fig. 3.

I claim:

l. A top construction for a desk comprising the comination with a metaltop having a downwardly extending flange at its side, of a surfacingsheet covering said top and having a flexible margin extending outwardlybeyond the outside of said flange, and a finishing strip having aportion overiying said flange and another portion comprising a channelembracing the margin of the surfacing sheet in spaced relation with theedge thereof,

3 the channel including a flange with a beveled edge overlying and incontact with the upper surface of said sheet at a point spaced inwardlyfrom the sheet margin to clamp said sheet against the top above theflange of the top, said sheet margin being deformed downwardly as itextends beyond the flange of the top and beneath the flange of thefinishing strip.

2. A top construction for a desk or the like comprising the combinationwith a metal top having a downwardly extending ilange at its side, of asurfacing sheet covering said top and having a margin extendingoutwardly from the outside of said ange, and a finishing strip having aportion overlying said ange and another portion comprising a channelembracing the margin of the surfacing sheet in spaced relation with theedge thereof, the channel including a flange overlying and in Contactwith the upper surface of the margin of said sheet, said top havingaportion in immediate proximity to the rst mentioned ange in which thedesk top is relieved to a level slightly below that of its general areaand the surfacing sheet is deformed downwardly in conformity with saidrelieved portion.

3. The device of claim 2 in which the flange of the linishing stripwhich overlies the margin of the surfacing sheet has its lower surfacebeveled.

4. A top construction for a desk comprising a metal top having a majorportion generally planiform and a narrow portion in immediate proximitytoits sides in which said top is relived'downwardly below the level ofsaid planiforrn portion, a surfacing sheet covering said top and havinga margin deformed downwardly in con- 4 i formity with the relievedportion of said top, and a nishing strip extending upwardly across theedge of said surfacing sheet and having a flange overlying thedownwardly deformed margin of the surfacing sheet with the upper surfaceof said ange approximately at the level of that portion of the sheetwhich covers the planiform portion of the top.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which the finishing stripcomprises a channel spaced substantially continuously from the margin ofthe surfacing sheet.

6. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which the top inclinescurvilinearly downwardly toward its said ange to provide the relievedportion aforesaid, the surfacing sheet curving downwardly in conformitytherewith and the nishing strip flange overlying the surfacing sheethaving its under surface beveled at its inner margin to accommodate thecurve of the surfacing sheet and to enable the upper surface of theflange to merge substantially without a shoulder with the upper surfaceof the sheet portion which covers the generally planiform part of thetop.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.18,077 Larson May 19, 1931 1,705,152 Card Mar. 12, 1929 1,815,167 SoperJuly 2l, 1931 2,032,878 Hunter Mar. 3, 1936 2,562,360 Jones July 31,1951 2,786,727 Nordmark` Mar. 20, 1957

